If you’re someone who is always planning your next getaway, rising costs of living may be a concern as you dream of upcoming vacations. In fact, according to Skyscanner’s 2025 Travel Trends, flight price is a top determining cost factor when Canadians are booking their vacay. But finding cheaper flights isn’t always easy.

If you’re a savvy traveler, though, you can still book your dream destination without breaking the bank. Here are some sneaky tips for how you can save money on your airfare in 2025.

Book Off-Season for Popular Destinations

One of the best ways to snag a hot deal is to travel to popular destinations in their off-season for tourism. Sure, this may mean that you’ll miss the best weather, but it can also come with the bonus of avoiding big crowds of tourists. Canadians are known for their hardiness and ability to handle frigid temperatures. So if you’re looking for the very best deal, consider destinations like:

• London, England in February or March
• Tokyo, Japan in September and October
• Paris, France in January or February

Earn Points With a Travel Card

Make your credit work for you — and help you pay off your trips — by choosing the right travel card. Be sure to shop around for the best offer and consider how the welcome bonuses will pay off. Compare things like regular awards on spending, welcome bons and anniversary bonus. Online tools like RateHub have a calculator where you can enter your typical spending, and compare the deals and benefits of various travel cards.

To illustrate the differences in these offers, travel expert Barry Choi breaks down the different benefits of various credit cards and ways to navigate them. For example, he recommends signing on with the American Express Gold card and then switching to Cobalt down the line to maximize the points.

Don’t Get Fooled by Hidden Fees

One of the worst feelings is when you get nailed with hidden costs during your travel. The rise of discount airlines and the decline of carry-on inclusions (not to mention the shrinking sizes of luggage allowances) mean that the price of your ticket may not be the price of your journey.

It may sound simple, but try to avoid an extra hundred bucks or two by checking your luggage allowance and booking ahead to accommodate your needs. Baggage will always cost more at the counter or at the gate. Account for these fees when booking your flight or be prepared to suit up in a Ryanair special.

Related: Everything Canadians Need to Know About the ETIAS Before Travelling to Europe

Know When to Buy

If you have a particular destination in mind, it’s always a good idea to have your Google Flight tracker on. You can set your tracker for exact dates, or a flexible range. In general, it’s recommended to book international trips between three to six months before your travel dates. Domestic travel can be booked closer to the date, with around one to three months prior being the sweet spot. Sites like Skyscanner, KAYAK, Momondo and Kiwi are also great options to track and find the best flight deals.

When it comes to the best day of the week to book, opinions online vary. But many sources, including Spring Financial, recommend Tuesday or Sunday as the best day for Canadians to book a flight.

Subscribe to Flight Deal Feeds

Got a flexible calendar? Then flight deal sites may just be your new favourite thing. Sites like YYZdeals are a great source for finding jaw-dropping deals that you’ll need to be quick to snap up. I’ve personally scored one of my all-time best deals — a multi-stop trip to Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea to Toronto for only $550 — from a YYZdeals newsletter and have been singing their praises since. Another tip is to check Reddit threads for travel deals and tips, like r/CanadaTravel.

See More: This One Travel Trend Is Increasing in Popularity Among Canadians

Be Flexible With Stopovers

Sometimes the direct route is not the best route… unless you’re really averse to being in the air. You can save big bucks if you’re willing to take the scenic route — and even add a night or two to your stopover journey to see a second location. You can find better deals to destinations that are actively trying to attract tourists through stopover programs. Turn your vacation in a two-for-one deal in destinations like Dubai, Amsterdam and Lisbon with this tip.

Rack up Your Loyalty Points

Other than travel credit cards, there are other points cards that can help benefit your getaway. Points cards like Aeroplan, Avion and WestJet Rewards are available for plenty of purchases — from grocery runs to fuelling up your tank. Several credit cards will also allow you to convert points to travel points, so you can pool your earnings for the largest travel cash out. Compare different loyalty cards online to see which is the best option for you and get the most bang for your buck. If you don’t have enough points to cover your flight, you can also use rewards for things like seat upgrades to make your travel a little more comfortable.

Go Incognito

Another tip for ensuring that you don’t get price gauged when booking flights is to look at your cookie settings. If you’ve previously searched for a flight price, your interest in that route may cause an inflation in the price (thanks to dynamic pricing). For this reason, it’s always best to reject cookies and search for flights using incognito mode on your browser.

Book Travel During Sale Days

It may not always fit in with your timing; but if you can, booking air travel during airline sales can save you a pretty penny. Many airlines like Air Canada have their best deals on Boxing Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Consider taking advantage of holiday season to snag a great deal on your spring or summer getaway.

You Might Also Like: The Best Hotels for Solo Travelling

Compare Booking Sites

If you’ve already found a sweet deal, do your due diligence before clicking that “Book” button. Compare discount travel sites with the airlines site directly to see the price difference. Don’t be swayed by price alone though — compare the cancellation and refund policies, luggage allowance and seat allocation before you make your selection. Oftentimes, airlines will include more in their basic fare compared to discount sites.

Snagging the best deal on your ideal vacation takes a combination of flexibility, research and a bit of luck. To ensure that you’re saving your hard-earned dollars, keep these tips in mind before you book. Happy travels!

Entering the housing market is among the top goals for Canadians. In fact, the Financial Post reports that 58 per cent of Gen Z and millennials plan to buy a house in the next five years. But, with rising living costs, that dream may feel lofty for some. Here’s what you should know about Canadian mortgages in 2025 before you consider applying.

What Is the Minimum Credit Score to Qualify for a Mortgage?

While there are other factors that may contribute to getting your mortgage approved, your minimum credit score to be approved for a traditional mortgage should be between 620 to 680, according to Loans Canada. Other sources, like Scotiabank suggest that it should be on the higher end of that range, with a minimum score of 680 being their recommendation to get approved. Equifax, on the other hand, considers 660 and above a “good” credit score.

See More: Real Estate Agents Across Canada Share Their 2025 Predictions

What Is the Range of Credit Scores in Canada?

According to the Government of Canada, a credit score is “a three-digit number that comes from the information in your credit report. It shows how well you manage credit and how risky it would be for a lender to lend you money.” In Canada, credit scores range from 300 to 900.

• 550 and lower: Bad
• 560 to 659: Fair
• 660 to 724: Good
• 725 to 759: Very good
• 760+: Excellent

Related: A Complete Guide to Navigating Interest Rates in Canada

Can You Get Approved for a Mortgage With a Low Credit Score?

It’s possible that you may still be considered for a mortgage if you don’t meet those requirements. Some other factors that might impact your mortgage application are:

• Your debt
• Your income
• The mortgage amount and amortization period
• Your employment history

For example, if you have a great income, low debt but a bad credit score, it’s possible that you could still be approved. If you’re having trouble getting approved for a mortgage because of your credit score, consider improving your credit score by reviewing your credit history, applying for a credit card and building your credit history. You can also choose to hold off on applying for a mortgage until your credit is improved, and you’ll likely have more desirable options.

When that’s not possible, there are still other options like having a co-signer for your mortgage, increasing the size of your down payment or considering alternative lenders, such as private lenders.

What Is a Mortgage Stress Test?

In addition to your credit score, you will also need to pass a mortgage stress test. A mortgage stress test is designed by federal bank regulators to ensure that Canadians don’t take on too much debt — so they won’t default on their mortgage payments. To pass the mortgage stress test, applicants must prove that they can afford the mortgage rate, plus two per cent. So, if the current mortgage rate is 5 per cent, you would need to qualify for a mortgage at 7 per cent in order to pass the stress test.

With this information, we’re hoping that you’re armed to apply and qualify for your mortgage in 2025. Ready to buy? Check out the best and worst cities for homebuyers in Canada.

Food waste is a staggering problem in Canada with 46 per cent of all food in the country going to waste each year, according to Newswire. And what’s worse is that of that waste, 41 per cent can be avoided. With almost half the food in Canada going to waste, and expiry dates being the leading cause, it’s time that we look inside our hearts — and fridges — to figure out how to do better in 2025.

Most food waste is not born out of ill intention. It’s simply the result of overbuying and forgetting what we actually have (or to use it in time). The easiest way to start tackling the problem is to give your refrigerator a new year clean and reorganizing to make the most of your space and prevent waste.

See More: How to Organize Kitchen Cupboards to Optimize Your Storage Space

First, Take Stock Before You Shop

It’s harder to use up the produce in your fridge if it’s overstuffed and you can’t see or easily shift items around to access everything in it. So, avoid overbuying by taking a few minutes to assess your inventory before you pop to the shops. Perhaps this will involve a shifting of habits, like scheduling a regular grocery shopping day instead of spontaneously dropping in to grab last-minute items on your way home. It’s also important to establish communication with the other members of your household to avoid doubling up on a shop. Set a schedule or make it a habit to send a text when you’re picking up an item on the grocery list so you don’t end up with duplicated food items in your fridge.

Seeing Is Believing (and Eating)

It’s all too easy to skip spending the time to unload and organize groceries and opt for the quicker option of putting new stock at the front of the fridge. But that’s exactly the opposite of what you should be doing to minimize food waste.  Instead, take the time to pull older food items, particularly produce, to the front of your fridge so it’s in your eyesight each time you open that door. This will help you monitor the freshness and encourage you to think about using up the ingredients that are on the verge of spoiling — before you end up tossing them out.

Keep Things Clear

If your household has trouble using up items before they spoil, another tip to ensure visibility is to remove excess packaging. Cleaning TikTok loves clear bins for a reason — they’re great to keep the contents of your fridge organized and uniform, while ensuring that you can see exactly what you have in stock. Remove excess packaging that prevents that, especially on items like fresh produce, eggs, drinks and yogurt. Plus, keeping your food in airtight containers will help seal in the freshness for longer, giving you more time to use up your goods.

Try it: 10-Pack Fridge Organizers and Storage, BPA-Free Stackable Bins with Lid, $50.

Related: This Is the Best Way to Clean Your Kitchen Sink Drain

Map It Out

Okay, you don’t need to become a cartographer. But having a general sense of where things live in your fridge can make it easier when you’re taking stock, and make you less likely to miss using up an item. Designate areas for certain groups of food. Keep dairy in one section and deli goods in another. Meat and seafood are best put on the bottom shelf to avoid any drippings that might contaminate other foods and potentially lead to you throwing anything away. Read our space-saving fridge hacks for more tips.

The Not-So-Lazy Solution

Another tip for ensuring that you’re seeing and using everything in your fridge is to optimize the visibility of smaller items by using a lazy Susan — a round, rotating tray. Instead of condiments or jars getting shoved to the back, you’ll be able to turn that waste into want by easily accessing every item.

Properly Store Your Produce

Half-used produce is quick to spoil. Without the natural protection of their outer layer, fruits and veggies can be quicker to oxidize, meaning they’ll get brown and be susceptible to molding at an increased speed. Slow down the speed at which produce goes off with airtight containers (like the ones above) or silicone produce savers.

 

Try it: Silicone Reusable Fruit and Vegetable Storage Containers Set, $18.

Try These Herb-Saving Tips

If you prefer fresh to dried herbs (and we don’t blame you!) but struggle with the waste that comes with buying a package of a single herb for one recipe and then slowly letting them wilt away, try this. Trim the ends of leafy herbs like parsley and cilantro and place them in water to increase the time they’ll stay fresh. Alternatively, chop and freeze leftover herbs into ice cube trays so you always have them at the ready — without any tossing away.

Don’t Forget the Freezer

Our final tip is not to forget the freezer. Create organization in your coldest space by employing freezer baskets and clear freezer storage bags for storing food. Don’t forget to label and date items so that you know exactly what and when you’re storing things!

You Might Also Like: 10 New Home Appliance Trends You’ll Soon See Everywhere

The beginning of the year is an exciting time to forecast design trends of the year and see them unfold in the coming months. And who better to predict the upcoming designs that we’ll be seeing pop up more over the next year than the talented folks who you love to watch transform spaces like Sarah Baeumler, Ali Budd and Kristen Coutts?

From the colours that you can expect to see stealing the show to the feeling that designers are most often trying to capture through their designs, we’re sharing our top predictions for home trends in 2025.

Paint Trends for 2025

Limewash Paint

House of Ali star Ali Budd shares her favourite paint trend for the upcoming year: limewash walls. She acknowledges that white walls will always have their important place in design — it’s undeniable — but by choosing a limewash paint like Bauwerk Colour’s range, you can add interest while still maintaining a clean colour palette. “Bauwerk’s limewash is a go-to for adding texture and warmth, with an incredible color selection to suit any space,” she shares.

Related: Interior Design Trends on Their Way Out in 2024

Accent Ceilings

An accent wall has always been a great way to add a focal point to the room and incorporate a pop of colour. Beer Budget Reno‘s Kristen Coutt’s thinks that accent wall taken even higher, literally. “I love a good accent wall, and I think 2025 will be the year of accent ceilings!”

Warm Tones

This year will be all about rich colours that add warmth to your home. Sarah Baeumler shares that for her, 2025 will bring continued focus on warm tones and textures. Kristen Coutt’s adds her take: “We’ll see bolder colour palettes including richer reds and moodier tones.”

Cozy Comfort

High Quality Linens

More people will be making purchasing choices that put comfort first in 2025, says our talent. “For that final touch of luxury, high-quality bedding is essential,” Ali Budd shares. Her recommendation? “The Sferra Collection from The Rest by Sleep Country is my personal favorite; I’m absolutely obsessed.”

Functional and Uncluttered Spaces

Creating “cozy yet uncluttered spaces that prioritize comfort” will be a top theme for designs in 2025, according to Sarah Baeumler. Always clean, yet warm in her designs, she predicts that we’ll be seeing more “functional furniture and decor that doesn’t overwhelm the senses, promoting a sense of relaxation at home.”

Vintage Charm

’70s-inspired Spaces

Kristen Coutts predicts retro-inspired design, particularly those inspired by the funky trends of the 1970’s, will be a common theme that design lovers will be leaning into this coming year.

Sourcing Secondhand Furniture

Another prediction from Sarah is that there will be an uptick in secondhand furniture sourcing, a trend that eco conscious design lovers can celebrate. “We are seeing these unique pieces on their own and combined with contemporary design elements to evoke nostalgia. This may include sourcing vintage furniture, artwork, and accessories that tell a story while seamlessly fitting into modern interiors,” she shares. “Mixing old and new creates a unique aesthetic, allowing personal expression and adding character to any space.”

Going Organic

Organic Shapes

Don’t be surprised to see more furniture with curved and organic shapes. 2025 is not the year of blocky furniture, per Kristen Coutts. Instead, expect to see more playful curves that add interest to spaces.

Natural Finishes

“This year, interiors will be all about bringing nature closer than ever,” Sarah proclaims. Spaces will share a deeper connection to the outdoors by bringing in natural stones and darker wood tones.

Warm and Natural Lighting

The best way to bring the warmth of the sunshine inside is through large windows that prioritize natural light in rooms, something we can expect to see reflected across designs in 2025. Plus, we’ll see more folks using warm lighting through choice lighting fixtures.

Related: 16 Home Trends You’ll See Everywhere by 2025

If you’re looking for a low maintenance solution for your garden this year, now is the time to jump on the lasagna garden bandwagon.

And no, the name doesn’t suggest that you will be growing all the ingredients to make the perfect pasta dinner. Lasagna gardening — also known as sheet composting — is an organic gardening method in which you prepare a raised bed of nutrient-dense soil from composed organic matter.

Read on to learn the benefits of employing this gardening method this fall. 

1. It Doesn’t Require Much Prep

A lasagna garden is even less fuss than the dinner recipe. You can get yours started with just an afternoon of labour. First, scout out a good spot. You want the plot to be in an area that gets good sunlight — at least six to eight hours a day, depending on what you’ll be growing — and is at least smelling distance away from your deck or windows (don’t forget, with great composting comes not-so-great smells!). Once you have the area plotted, define your boundaries with rocks or timber and then get layering.

2. It’s Less Labour-Intensive and Doesn’t Require Weeding

Perhaps the most appealing feature of a lasagna garden is the fact that it doesn’t require hours of exhausting digging. This raised garden method requires some prep work to get started, but it’s not nearly as taxing as other traditional gardening methods. No tilling or turning the soil is required here, just removing rocks or debris from your gardening plot. 

It’s not necessary to weed or turn over the soil since the layers of compost will smother down anything at the surface. At most, stomp down weeds rather than pulling them.

Related: 10 Most Invasive Plants in Canada to Remove From Your Garden

3. It Makes Use of Kitchen Scraps and Organic Waste

If you have a yard, you probably already have all the materials that you need for your lasagna gardening journey. The garden starts with a layer of newspaper or cardboard and then alternates between brown and green compost layers. The brown layers should be made of yard waste like shredded leaves, pine needles, and shredded newspaper, while the green layers use kitchen waste from your organic bin and grass and leave clippings. Not only do you not need to buy anything to create this compost plot, but it’s putting your scraps to work. 

4. It’s Low-Cost

While growing produce yourself is incredibly satisfying, it’s not always cost-effective during the first year or two as you invest in the materials you need for a thriving garden. The beauty of lasagna gardening is that it makes use of materials you already have. That means there’s less need to buy fertilizer and plant foods to help the growth of your garden. The nutrients are already right there, in your freshly composted soil. And if you were interested in composting already, it’s a way to get started without investing in materials — like a compost bin. 

Read More: Here’s How to Plan the Best Layout for a Vegetable Garden

5. It Needs Less Watering

Lasagna gardening is pretty much a set it and forget it task. Set it up in the fall, an ideal time because the rain and snow through the colder months will keep it good and moist, which helps the composting process. And in a few months, by spring, you should be set to plant. It won’t require much maintenance or water throughout that time. To decompose the organic matter, you’ll want a moist — but not overly wet so as to create rot — plot. 

Are you ready to start your own garden yourself and make use of that organic matter you already have? Get started with your lasagna garden today. If you already have your soil prepped and are ready to plant, why not check out some of the best fall vegetables to plant before winter hits?

When designing your dream open-concept kitchen, it’s important to consider function and style equally. One of the key challenges in making small or large updates to your cooking area is choosing appliances that work with your design instead of standing out as an eyesore. This is especially true if you’ve chosen an open-concept kitchen that prioritizes a contemporary look and open space.

Take the range hood. It’s an essential appliance for your kitchen, particularly if you have a gas cooktop. A kitchen range hood serves several functions: it removes smoke, steam, heat and odours, allowing for better visibility and a more pleasant cooking experience. What it shouldn’t do? Block your eyeline, come with a difficult and costly installation or be a loud nuisance to use.

To set you on the right path, here’s everything you should consider before your kitchen renovation begins to make the perfect choice in a range hood.

Related: Genius Low-Cost Kitchen Updates That Look Expensive

The Best Range Hood for an Open-Concept Kitchen

There are plenty of styles of range hoods to choose from — some popular types include under-cabinet range hoods, microwave range goods, wall-mounted range hoods or ductless range hoods, to name a few. These types may work well if your cooktop is against a wall, but they’re often bulkier than some homeowners would prefer for their open-concept kitchen.

If you’re looking for something more discreet that preserves the overall view and look of your kitchen, a flush ceiling mount range hood is your best option.

How Flush Ceiling Range Hoods Work

Designed to be the perfect range option for a kitchen island, Victory Range Hoods’ line of Canadian-made flush ceiling range hoods are installed between ceiling joists to make for a more convenient install (which any homeowner living through a reno can appreciate!). The brushed stainless steel door hides filters that create a powerful vacuum suction to whisk away airborne kitchen odours, smoke and steam which are then filtered and expelled via ducts.

Related: These Are the Perfect Kitchen Lights for Your New Home

Benefits of Flush Ceiling Range Hoods

If you’re considering purchasing a flush ceiling range hood, let’s take a closer look at some of their many benefits.

Keeps Your Kitchen Views in View

A flush ceiling range hood alleviates one of the biggest kitchen renovation fears of blocking views and negating the hard work of creating an open-concept kitchen. Unlike suspended range hoods that hang down and block views, a flush ceiling range hood allows for a clear eyeline.

This will make a world of difference for open-concept kitchens in general, but especially when an island cooktop comes into play. The Victory Horizon from Victory Range Hoods offers a true flush design in a brushed stainless steel finish. You’ll get skyline views, with no visual compromise.

900 CFM Powerful Flush Ceiling Range Hood – Victory Horizon, Victory Range Hoods, $2,199.

Related: Kitchen Renovation Trends We’ll See Everywhere in 2024

Fits Your Modern and Contemporary Kitchen Design

Clean lines and a minimalist design aesthetic make for a modern design that fits well with an open-concept kitchen. To complement that, the Victory Horizon Glow features a crisp minimalist look with the bonus of function, too. Opt for the ambient LED backlit model for a dimmable glow.

900 CFM Flush Ceiling Hood with Ambient LED Backlight – Victory Horizon-Glow, Victory Range Hoods, $2,399.

Powerful and Quiet

Flush ceiling range hoods are considerably more energy efficient than downdraft range hoods, making them a great choice for energy-conscious homeowners. Victory Range Hoods’ line comes in either a powerful 600 or 900 CFM (cubic feet metre, AKA the range’s ventilation power), yet it’s surprisingly quiet so you can cook in peace. For even more power, in the case of some models like the Victory Sky, a 1,000 CFM remote blower can be included.

Ceiling Mounted Recessed Range Hood – Victory Sky, Victory Range Hoods, $2,599.

Easier Installation — No Reframing Necessary

We know anyone taking on the installation of their flush ceiling range will appreciate this one. A typical range hood installation will vary based on how it’s mounted, with many flush ceiling range fans requiring reframing. However, Victory Range Hoods’ products (like the Victory Sunset) are unique in that they install between ceiling joists where they can be exhausted either horizontally or vertically.

Flush Ceiling Mount Range Hood – Victory Sunset, Victory Range Hoods, $1,899.

Canadian-Designed and Made

Not only do they preserve the look of your kitchen, but you can also feel confident in your purchase knowing that by purchasing a Victory Range Hood, you’ll be supporting a Canadian-designed and made product.

You Might Also Like: Must-Haves All Dream Kitchens Need in 2024

 

It’s easy to add some festive cheer to your home with little more than a string of lights. Whether you’re a fan of minimalist holiday decor or like going all out (think pop culture decoration and more), it’s guaranteed that your festive decor includes a string or two. Here are the five places inside your house where you can string up those fairy lights for a holiday twinkle.

On Your Christmas Tree

The most obvious choice for where to string up holiday lights is a tree. Whether real or artificial, nothing makes a Christmas tree shine like string lights.

See More: The Best Artificial Christmas Trees You Can Buy

On Your Garland-Wrapped Banister

Another spot to add sparkle to your home with holiday lights is staircase banisters. Wrap both garland and Christmas lights around a banister and light up the way. It’s the perfect look for any entryway that features a stylish-looking staircase.

Shop Them Here: PREXTEX Christmas Lights (60 Feet, 300 Lights), Amazon, $45.

On Your Garland

Trees aren’t the only thing that deserves some holiday sparkle by lighting them up with twinkle string lights. Add some shine to all the greenery inside your home, from wreaths to garland. One tip is to get battery-powered lights so that you can hang your garland and wreaths all around the home, not just close to the nearest outlet.

See More: How to Make Easy Dried Citrus Christmas Ornaments

In Lanterns

A great way to decorate your home for the holidays, indoors or out, is by swapping the standard bulb or candle for small LED lights inside a lantern. Tiny battery-powered lights give a magical feeling that’s full of holiday cheer. They’ll look great on a mantel, by the tree or lining a staircase. You can even try them inside a glass bookcase, like in this great TikTok hack:

Related: How to Gift Wrap Like a Pro

As a Warm and Cozy Tablescape

You don’t just need to wrap string lights around greenery; they also look great as a tablescape. It adds a warm glow to the table, without needing to light up the candles. It’s an especially great idea for a kids’ holiday table, where you don’t want little ones in danger from real flames.

Shop Them Here: 3-Colour String Lights, Indigo, $35.

You Might Also Like: The Best Holiday Decor Organization Hacks, According to an Expert

We know you’re already familiar with Pamela Anderson. She’s an iconic model, screen star and activist that’s been a household name for decades. Now get ready to see Pamela in a whole new light as she returns to her family’s legacy property on Vancouver Island to restore, design and settle into her forever home as well as assist with the renovation of her two sons, Brandon and Dylan’s new home in Los Angeles. Before you check out Pamela’s Garden of Eden season two, get to know Pamela.

She Was Born in Ladysmith, British Columbia

Pamela hails from the picturesque West Coast town, Ladysmith. Ladysmith is a small town (with a population under 9,000 residents) that features a charming waterfront. Loyal Homes describes it as an ideal location for real estate investors because of the beautiful landscapes and charming slices of the waterfront. In Pamela’s Garden of Eden, Pamela makes her triumphant return to beautiful Ladysmith, to renovate the property she purchased 25 years ago.

Related: Tour Pamela Anderson’s Completed Ladysmith Home

Her Birthday is Canada Day

Pamela’s first brush with fame was as a Centennial Day baby, born on Canada Day on the 100th anniversary of the country’s founding. For someone who once described herself as the “ultimate California girl”, her Canadian roots are strong, which makes it such a logical step for her to return to British Columbia to restore her grandmother’s legacy property on Vancouver Island.

She Holds Both American and Canadian Citizenship

Though Pamela became an American citizen in 2004, she retained her Canadian citizenship. The dual citizen owns property south of the border in Malibu, California, as well as her British Columbia home.

Her Home Improvement Connection

Perhaps home renovations have always been in the cards for her, as Pamela’s debut on the silver screen in a recurring role was alongside Tim Allen in the ‘90s sitcom Home Improvement. She appeared in the show from 1991 to 1992 as Allen’s “Tool Time” assistant, and left in 1992 to move on to her most iconic role, as C.J. Parker in Baywatch.

She’s an OG Reality Star

Pamela is no stranger to unscripted television, with credits in various Big Brother franchises around the world (from India to Bulgaria) and features on Dancing With the Stars and Dancing On Ice.

She’s a Passionate Vegan

A vegetarian since she was a teen (years before plant-based diets were popular), Pamela has been living a vegan lifestyle for decades. Pamela encourages people to eat more sustainably and healthy. For her, gathering fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden is one way to lead by example.

She’s an Animal Rights and Environmental Activist

More than just her veganism, Pamela is “a voice for the planet”, an outspoken advocate for animal and environmental rights. She has worked with PETA on numerous campaigns, including the traffic-stopping “All Animals Have the Same Parts” campaign. She founded the Pamela Anderson Foundation which serves to protect the planet through supporting “organizations and individuals that stand on the front lines in the protection of human, animal, and environmental rights”. She was even successful in convincing the Russian government to ban all seal meat imports. Learn more about how you can contribute here.

She Has Five Dogs

Pamela has five dogs she rescued, and three currently live with her: Lucky, Lola and Zubisoubisou. When she starred in the musical Chicago on Broadway as Roxie Hart, her other dogs stayed in Vancouver so she would casually moonlight as a dog walker every day for an hour free of charge. “That’s how I get my dose of dogs every day because my dogs couldn’t come to New York,” she told the New York Post. 

She’s Penned Several Books

Pamela’s entertainment empire extends to more than just her movie and television credits. She’s also released several novels inspired by her life and experiences. She mentions in her recent documentary that she’s been documenting her life in various notebooks from an early age. She’s also written an autobiography called Love, Pamela and a series of children’s books. Beyond that, Pamela’s original poetry can also be found on her website.

Related: What to Watch on Home Network in 2025

Her Style is Inspiring a New Generation

With a resurgence of ’90s and Y2K style, Pamela has once again become a favourite style icon, with many Gen Zs finding inspiration from her blonde bombshell look featuring smouldering eyes, thin brows and dark-lined lips. She was also invited to be a special guest at the Jacquemus spring/summer 2023 fashion show where she turned heads for her extravagant coastal look.

She’s an Artist and Designer

On Pamela’s Garden of Eden, viewers will get a glimpse at her many artistic skills and a taste for her fresh, sexy and coastal design style as she puts her creativity to the test in a massive restoration of the property and gardens in LA and Canada.

Related: Pamela Anderson on What to Expect From Pamela’s Garden of Eden Season 2

She Loves to Cook

Her cookbook I Love You: Recipes From the Heart allows fans to step into Pamela’s kitchen with 80 vegan, plant-based recipes. It originally started as recipe cards as a housewarming gift for her sons which eventually grew into this cookbook. Drew Barrymore has even penned the book “Literally… the most beautiful cookbook I have ever seen. It is stunning.” 

Read More: Our Favourite Quotes From Pamela’s Garden of Eden

She is Debunking Unrealistic Beauty Standards

After first going makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week in September 2023, Pamela is championing inner beauty. While making other red carpet appearances, events and press tours, Pamela has continued to go makeup-free sharing that others have related to her message that she is good enough in her own way. Her decision has made her feel like herself more than ever. 

She is a First-Time Golden Globe Nominee

After starting her showbiz career in 1989, Pamela received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her role in the movie The Last Showgirl. In the movie, Pamela plays a Las Vegas dancer who is at a crossroads when the hotel that hosts her long-running show announces it will end after decades. 

She Belongs in a Museum

Her iconic red swimsuit from Baywatch will be displayed at the Design Museum in London, England, as part of the exhibition to help celebrate and explore swimming’s evolution in its social, cultural, technological and environmental contexts over the past 100 years. 

Watch season one of Pamela’s Garden of Eden on Home Network.

They’re your new favourite couple on Home Network – Mandy Rennehan, star of the new season of Trading Up With Mandy Rennehan sat down with us and her partner Lauren Ferraro to tell us their love story in their own words. Mandy and Lauren – AKA Bear and Annie – are breaking barriers as a female couple on television, but that’s not why you should love them. It’s purely their personalities and the obvious love they have for each other and their family (the two of them, plus their adorable dogs, a pair of Westies) that makes it impossible not to fall in love with them as they banter back and forth – both on the show and when we sat down to chat with the pair.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Bear and Annie On How They Met

Q: I want to get started talking about the two of you.

Annie: Do you want to get married, Bear? Do you want to marry me?

Bear: Are we really having this conversation?

Annie: We’re totally having this conversation. What would you like to know?

Q: I want to start at the beginning and hear about your love story.

Annie: Well I’ll give you my version… I’m a public speaking coach and years ago Bear’s publicist at the time called me and said, “Hey, I have this person who’s great at speaking but she has a little bit of a squirrel complex as they called it. So someone would ask them a question and she would start to answer it and go off. So they said, “Can you work with her on public speaking?” I said, yeah, sure. I’ll look her up. They sent me some videos and sure enough, she rambles and I said, “Sure, I can fix the squirrel complex”.

Eventually, I met Bear at her favourite place to meet people – to eat, to enjoy music, her home away from home when she’s not at home – we met as our first consultation and Bear said it was love at first sight. She said she fell in love immediately and we just hit it off. We never talked about work at all. We talked for probably what, five hours and then the coach in me was like, “Oh my God, we didn’t get to any work!”. And then we met up again and we just talked for eight hours. And so eventually it was sort of like, are we going to get to this public speaking stuff?

Bear: So that’s her version. Right out the gate, I was kind of like, why do I gotta go see this woman? She wants eight sessions. I know I’ve got a squirrel complex, but it will be quick. And Annie will always tell the story that I still owe her for that – I haven’t paid my invoice for that session. But one of the things is that I came out of a 10-year relationship probably about six months before I met Annie.

It was one of those things where you just never know when you’re gonna meet that person. And we sat down… it was literally – we just couldn’t stop talking to each other. And later on, she said she fell in love with my eyes. But, you know, I was just taken with her energy and her ability and I was just like, “Wow”. It was one of those things that from that moment we met, we’ve been together ever since. Annie had never been in a female relationship. And, you know, it was just one of those when you meet that person, you just know what’s right. And so, five and a half years later, here we are, kids, telling you about our love story.

Bear and Annie On Their Wedding Plans

Q: So what are your wedding plans now?

Annie: We have ideas. I’m from Ontario. She’s from Nova Scotia. So where do we do this? Classically, everyone would say do it at The Windmill. The Windmill is stunning, but I actually have a feeling we’re going to do the wedding here [in Ontario]. And then we sort of toy with are we going Louis Vuitton or are we going, you know, kitchen party/East Coast style. We could go both ways because Bear is very stylish in that sense. Or we could do both and mix designs. You would know that.

Bear: I’ve always believed that a wedding needs to be about projecting that happiness on everyone else. I’ve always said to Annie that if we have it here or wherever we’re gonna have it, it needs to be about the fact that the people that we adore and love show up free of charge. There’s none of these stag and doe, and people buying us gifts and buying this and buying that. It’s always been very important to me that this is a day that we’re able to share what love looks like.

Annie: And our love for them!

Bear: Yeah. And our love for them. It has always been very important that this wedding is about everybody. Annie and I found each other later in our lives (I say later in our lives, like over that 35 mark) and we very much knew that we were good for each other. I think that there are so many lessons in what a wedding can be and why it’s important, and that’s why for us it’s been about where is the place that we can pack in as many of our crazy people as possible and and what’s that gonna look like. And this wedding is not just about us, it’s about truly showing what things can be.

Related: 10 Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love With Yarmouth

Q: Will the dogs be in the wedding?

Annie: Ohhhh yes. Yes, short answer. If we plan, like, the walk down the aisle thing, I kind of envisioned Bear and I walking down together or entering a space together. I like that idea. As opposed to me being given to you, which is sort of the old concept. I like the idea of Bear and I entering the room together, so we probably each have a dog.

Bear and Annie On Pride, Visibility and Celebrating Their Love

Q: What are your plans for Pride Month? Any special memories or way you’re celebrating?

Annie: No plans, per se.

Bear: We’re like this every month.

Annie: We’re like this every month. We’ve put some cute photos on social. Just existing is representing. I think not hiding and I think the show is representation like no other. It’s part of what we’re doing for the month – it’s the show, there’s us. I’m not like going to Toronto to the Pride parade, not for any other reason besides, it’s really far away, but I think it’s just Bear and I being ourselves. And being here. Existing!

Related: Get to Know the Cast of Trading Up With Mandy Rennehan

Bear and Annie On the Reception to the Show

Q: Any final thoughts you want to leave the audience with?

Annie: In regard to the show, my inbox doesn’t stop, so thank you for people reaching out and writing. It’s extremely touching. Seems so cliché, but it’s moving. I’m glad it’s helping people and inspiring people and they’re laughing and loving it and getting their husbands to watch it.

Bear: The only thing that I would say to mirror what Annie just said, is what made me what I am today is very similar to what we’re seeing evolve from the show, which is that it doesn’t matter what you’re packing, what color your skin is – any of the variables that have stopped the world in its tracks. This show very much represents love and acceptance and charm and happiness, and that you can have it all if we just stop judging things unnecessarily.

I think the thing that I’m loving is that Annie and I on this show represent a female couple that has never been seen on TV before, let alone on a reno show. And just how normal it is. I think that normalcy is transcending into people’s living rooms, no matter who you are or what you were, because whether they have an issue with homosexuality or not, they’re having a hard time not liking us. The key is people just being them and following the realness of who they are and knowing that people really relate to that.